Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 6, 1898

THE CELTIC MONTHLY:
A MAG:4ZINE FOR HIGHLANDERS.
Edited by JOHN MACKAY, Glasgow.
No. 9. Vol. VI.]
JUNE, 1898
[Price Threepence.
DAVID MACDONALD,
PRESIDENT, KINTYRE CLUB, GLASGOW.
^fT^^E have often htaid it remarked that
MjHyft/ Kintyre has produced more men who
\i'/f^l/y have distinguished themselves in
mercantile pursuits, in all quarters of the globe,
than any other part,
of equal size and
))opulation, in the
United Kingdom.
To what extent this
statement may be
accepted as accurate,
we are not at the
moment prepared to
say, but when we
recollect such famil-
iar Kintyre names as
the Mackiiinons, the
Halls, the Armours,
and a host of others
of world-wide cele-
brity, we are inclined
to think that there
is a good deal of
probability in the
assertion. It cannot
be said of Kintyrians
that they are a "stay
at home" race ; the
youth of the district
go out into the wide
world, and strive to
carve out a fortune
for themselves in
whatever clime or
sphere their lot may
be cast. Glasgow, owing to its close proximity
to the Peninsula, otlers many attractions to the
enterprising young Kintyrians, and we find
them occupying positions of trust and influence
in every profession.
It would be difficult to select a better example
in Glasgow of the self-made Highlander than
Mr. David MacDonald, the much respected
President of the Kintyre Club. No special
credit is due to the man who occupies an exalted
position owing solely to the fortunate accident
of being his father's son, but we all entertain a
particular respect for the person who has been
the " architect of his own fortune," and who has
achieved success by his own native energy and
talent. In this respect Mr. iMacDonald is well
deserving of the high esteem in which he is held
by all who know him.
The subject of our
sketch comes of an
old Kintyre stock ;
indeed it may be
truly said that the
name MacDonald
has been associated
intimately with the
history of the district
from the earliest
times. For several
generations his
family were millers,
blacksmiths, and
farmers in the South-
end district. His
father was John
MacDonald, who was
tenant of Pennygown
farm for many years.
He died at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-
seven years, and was
well known and
very highly respected
in Kintyre. His
mother, Elizabeth
Reid, of the Reids of
Kildavie, descended
from one of the
earliest of the many Ayrshire Covenanters who
sought refuge in Kintyre.
David MacDonald was born at Coniglen in
1848. His early years were spent at Southend,
where he attended the parish school, then